Clamp for bicycle-pedals



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. SHERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BELLE C. SHER- MAN AND ROLLIN SHERMAN, OF SAME PLACE, AND MARTIN Wl SHER- MAN, OF MILIVAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

CLAMP FOR BlC YCLE-PEDALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 562,858, dated June 30, 1896.

Application filed August 1, 1895. Serial No. 557,8 0. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool: and State of Illinois, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Clamps for Bicycle-Pedals, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a clamp for bicyclepedals, my object being to provide means for clamping the foot of the rider upon the pedal when the foot is placed thereon, whereby the foot is prevented from being thrown from the pedal, due to its rapid rotation.

As is well known, it is very diflicult to maintain the foot upon the pedal when riding at high speeds, particularly in racing, and it has been proposed heretofore to provide atoeclip upon the pedal adapted to extend over the toe and rest upon the top of the foot to maintain. the foot upon the pedal. Such construction, however, is not efiective in securely maintaining the foot upon the pedal, and it is the object of the present invention to provide a clamp for securing the sole of the riders shoe to the pedal to thus more effectively maintain the foot in position.

In accordance with my invention a clamping device is provided upon the pedal, which, when the pressure of the foot is imposed thereon, acts to clamp the sole of the riders shoe in position, the clamp acting, when the pressure is removed, to release the foot.

I will describe my invention more in particular by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a pedal embodyin g my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevational view thereof, a portion of the pedal being broken away. Fig. 3 is an end view of the pedal, showing the foot of the rider locked in position. Fig. 4 is a view of a modification.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several fi gures.

I have illustrated my invention in connection with a pedal of specific construction; but it will be evident that it is equally applicable to other forms, my invention being suscepti- 5o ble of numerous modifications.

The pedal-rod a is secured to the crank by its end and carries plates 1) I), mounted to rotate relatively to the rod a. Upon the opposite euds of plates 1) h are carried the plates c d, being rigidly secured thereto. Upon the plates 0 and (1 respectively are provided upward projections or clamps c (1', against which the edge of the sole of the shoe may rest. In the plate a is provided a longitudinal slot 0 while slot (1 is provided in the plate 61. The ends of V a bent rod or journal 6 are adapted to pass through the slots, screws or nuts 6' 2 being provided upon the ends of the rod 6, whereby the rod may be secured in any adjusted position within the slots. Upon the rod 6 are journaled the clamping-plates f and g,the plates carrying right-angular extension s or clamps f g, respectively, upon their ends, adapted to engage the sole of the riders shoe. The levers f and g are so proportioned as to weight that the portion upon the left of the pivot, as illustrated in Fig. 2, predominates over the portion upon the right, so that when the clamping-plate occupies the position of the plate f in Fig. 2 the end carrying the clamp f is depressed, while the inner end f is elevated. When the clamping-plate is in the position of the plate g in Fig. 2, the inner end 9 is brought into contact with the pin 9 8c the greater weight of the opposite end maintaining the plate in this position. When the rider places his foot upon the pedal, the sole of the shoe engages the inner end of the clamping-plate which may at the time be uppermost, that is, the inn er end f of the clampingplate f, as illustrated in Fig. 2, thus rotating the clamping-plate and clamping the sole of the shoe between the clamps c and f. The shoe is thus looked upon the pedal and pre- 0 vented from being thrown therefrom, due to the rapid rotation of the pedal. hen it is desired to remove the foot, it may be readily done by giving to the foot a slight rocking movement to the side to rotate the clamping- 5 plate f and thus separate the clamps c f to release the foot.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the clamping-plate f mounted upon a journal which is fixed in position, while the clamp c is adapted to be adjusted in position, a slot 7L being provided in which a screw or bolt h, carried .upon the clamp c, is adapted to move to thus vary the distance between the clamps f and c.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a bicycle-pedal, of a clamping-lever pivoted to the pedal and carrying upon the outer end a clamp, a second clamp provided upon the pedal between which and the clamp upon the lever the sole of the riders foot is adapted to be clamped, the pivot of said clamping-lever being located so that the weight of the end of the lever carrying the clamp predominates; whereby the weight of the lever tends to maintain the clamps separated when the lever is on the upper side of the pedal and moves the lever into a horizontal position when on the under side of the pedal; substantially as described.

2. In a bicycle-pedal, the combination with the plates 0 cl carrying the clamps c d respectively upon their ends, of the pivoted clamping-plates f g carrying the clamps f respectively upon their ends, the ends carry ing the clamps predominating in weight, and the rod 6 upon which said clamping-plates are pivoted, said rod 6 being adapted to be adjustably moved within slots provided in said plates 0 d whereby the distance between the clamps may be adjusted; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe m i name this 30th day of July, A. D. 1895.

GEORGE G. SHERMAN. lVitnesses:

JOHN W. SINCLAIR, W. CLYDE J ONES. 

